Role Description

BLACspace Cooperative is seeking a dynamic Mutual Aid Lead to join its small but mighty staff team. The Mutual Aid Lead is responsible for organizing BLACspace’s organizational members and the larger network of Black-led cultural groups in Oakland. They will build relationships with existing and potential members, listen deeply to understand the needs of the network, facilitate mutual aid among participants, and advocate for the membership. They will facilitate the growth of the ecosystem while tending to the wellness of its members. This position requires a passionate and dedicated individual who is committed to fostering a culture of support, solidarity, and collaboration among cooperative members and the wider community. This role requires strong leadership, organizing skills, and a deep understanding of cooperative principles.

Responsibilities include:

• Strategy: Collaborating with cooperative leadership staff and board members to develop a comprehensive strategy for mutual aid initiatives through the organizational membership program that align with the cooperative's mission, values, and long-term goals.

• Relationships: Fostering relationships with local community organizations, nonprofit businesses, and other cooperatives to leverage resources and collaborate on mutual aid efforts.

• Organizing & Resource sharing: Listening deeply to network members, understanding their offers and needs, and supporting them to move towards thriving.

• Membership growth: Managing new member selection and onboarding.

• Communication & Wellness: Managing member communication & monitoring member well-being.

• Conflict Engagement: Managing emergent conflicts and facilitating trust-building and healing among members.

• Education: Developing and delivering educational programs and workshops to raise awareness about mutual aid principles, cooperative values, and community-building practices.

• Evaluation: Regularly evaluating initiatives and using data to inform program enhancements and strategic decision-making.

• Service to the cooperative: All staff carry the load collectively and support the growth of the cooperative. This includes strategy development, planning, policy creation, collective learning and participating in democratic decision-making. Not every responsibility can be anticipated, and you may be called upon to support others, as you may call on others to support you, to carry our collective work forward. This is an important part of our staff dynamic and reflects our commitment to solidarity and personal growth.

You will be expected to develop your capacity to operate effectively in a collaborative and democratic collective. At times this may look like taking direction from other staff or community members, holding yourself accountable for responsibilities, stepping into leadership roles, or sharing leadership with other cooperative members.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Based in the Bay Area (for at least the last 3 years)

• Deep roots in the Oakland Black Arts & Culture world, and cultural competency in collaborating with Black-led cultural arts organizations.

• 3-5 years of community organizing, cooperative development, mutual aid, and/or healing justice experience.

• Experience building and developing programs in movement organizations.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• 3 years of group facilitation experience and/or conflict mediation experience.

• Proven experience and ability to discern and navigate power dynamics.

• Strong interpersonal skills. comfortable building relationships and facilitating group dynamics.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Conflict mediation training

• Healing/Wellness Practitioner expertise

• Cooperative work experience/familiarity with power-sharing and democratic decision-making

• Experience building and developing programs in move

• Experience working in startup environments

• Staff management experience

• Grounding in the Cultural Arts & Solidarity Economy ecosystems

• Passion to contribute towards the growth of an organization and vision

• Arts practitioner

Impactful Opportunities:

• Become a worker-owner of a newly formed cooperative after a one-year initial period

• Co-design an innovative, unique multi-stakeholder cooperative model

• Work with a majority Black women leadership team

• Attend 2 annual, in-person retreats

• Participate in a caring, loving, transparent, human-centered work environment

BLACspace Cooperative is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Black, BIPOC, queer and trans, women, and gender non-conforming applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.